Reckoned Righteous by Works

Abraham had faith and that faith was accounted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). This is one of the most important teachings in the Bible. It is called “justification (to be declared righteous) by faith.” Paul explains it in detail (Rom. 3:21-5:1), insisting that justification is by faith and not by works (Rom. 4:2-3, 5).

It is surprising, then, to discover that the Bible says man’s work was accounted for righteousness. “Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore” (Ps. 106:30-31).

In the wilderness some committed “harlotry” with the women of Moab (Num. 25:1). Then, they “bowed” to the gods of Moab (Num. 25:2). When the Lord told Moses to kill the offenders, Phinehas killed two of them with a javelin (Num. 25:3-15). The Lord gave Phinehas a “covenant of peace” (Num. 25:12), saying “it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood” (Num. 25:13). Phinehas’ work of killing two people was “accounted to him for righteousness!” (Ps. 106:31).

Admittedly, as J. A. Alexander, the Bible scholar, says, “The form of expression is borrowed from Genesis 15:6.” Indeed, it has been called a “striking instance of the fearlessness of expression which is to be found in the Scriptures as compared with dogmatic forms of modern controversial theology” (Perowne), but what does it mean? Does the Bible teach justification by faith or does it teach justification by works?

The answer is, “both.” There is clearly a justification by faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 5:1; Gal. 3:6; Jas. 2:23). There is also a justification by works (Jas. 2:21, 24-25). Justification by faith is before God (Rom. 4:5). Justification by works is before people (cf. “you see” in Jas. 2:24).

So, both Abraham and Phinehas were justified by faith and both were justified by works. Abraham was “justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar” (Jas. 2:21) and Phinehas was justified by works when he obeyed God’s command to kill people worth of capital punishment (Ps. 106:31). God sees faith and declares the believer righteous (Phil. 3:9), assured of heaven. God sees obedience and declares the believing worker righteous (Jas. 2:21; Ps. 106:31), worthy of reward. We cannot see the faith, but we can see the work.

Commentators concur. One calls what Phinehas received a “reward” and says, it was “not a justifying act by which Phinehas was saved, but a praiseworthy act for which he, a justified or righteous man already, received the divine commendation and perpetual memorial of his faithfulness” (Alexander). Another says, that what he did was “looked upon as a righteous act and rewarded accordingly” (Perowne).